EnvironmentEnvironment

Dr. P R ArunIndia Centre for Human Rights and Law

Human Rights & EnvironmentHuman Rights & EnvironmentRights inherent in our nature as human beings and without which we

cannot live as human beings First Generation

– Political and Civil Second Generation

– Social, Economic and Cultural Third Generation -

– Development– Environment– Peace– Access to Resources, information

What is EnvironmentWhat is Environment

Your environment is the sum total of Your environment is the sum total of everything outside you everything outside you

((Internal environment ?).It includes – Living and nonliving things – Natural and unnatural/artificial– Physical, Biological, Psychological

Environmental Damage Today Environmental Damage Today We are losing

– 300 km2 of rainforest, (1 acre / second)– 186 km2 land due to desertification, – 40 to 100 species

And we are adding– 250,000 people– 2,700 tons of CFC (chlorofluorocarbons)– 15 million tons of carbon. Tonight the Earth will be a little hotter, its waters more

acidic, and the fabric of life more threadbare."

Global Ecological foot printsGlobal Ecological foot prints

Importance of EnvironmentImportance of Environment

– Natural Environment is Responsible for life on earth Evolved through millions of years of evolution Provides Invaluable Ecosystem services

Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services

– Oxygen and water– Detoxification and decomposition of wastes – Conserve soils and their fertility – Pollination of flowers & Dispersal of seeds – Protection from the ultraviolet rays – Maintenance of biodiversity – Moderation of weather extremes and their impacts – Provision of aesthetic beauty and intellectual and

spiritual stimulation for the human spirit

Threats to EnvironmentThreats to Environment

Severest threat is from us, humans– Pollution

Air, water, Soil, ..– Destroy Natural Habitats

Deforestation, Hunting, reclamation, – Alter the Environment

Green house Gases, Ozone depleting substances

Natural calamities– Earth Quakes, Forest fires, Volcanoes, Cyclones, ….

Residues & Wastes from Residues & Wastes from HumansHumans

Factors contributing – urbanization– industrialization– human population growth– production and use of disposable products

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Management– Secured landfill - least expensive– Deep well injection– Incineration of Hazardous waste– Hazardous Waste Recycling and Neutralization– Source Reduction

AgricultureAgriculture

Traditional Modern

Productivity Low High

Labour High Less

Environmental Pollution Low High

Genetic Diversity High Low

Sustainability High Low

Scale of Operation Small/medium Large

One of the largest environmental Damage over the last 10,000 years

PollutionPollutionAir/ Atmosphere

– CO2, SO2, NO, CFC, Water

– Industrial effluents, Sewage, Pesticides, Fertilizers,

Soil– Solid wastes, Effluents, sewage, …

Noise pollution, Radiation

Pollution & Damage to LifePollution & Damage to Life

Natural Flora and Fauna– Forests, Wildlife

Human beings, domestic animals, plants

Health impacts– Physical, Mental, Social, Spiritual

Trade in tiger bone– Major factor that threatens survival– Used for thousands of years in Asian

medicine for treatment of rheumatismIvory trade

– Decimated Indian Elephant populations and skewed sex ratio

Tiger bone wine

Hunting/ PoachingHunting/ Poaching

Shrinking rangesShrinking ranges

Siberian TigerBengal Tiger

Asian Elephant

Endangered Indian WildlifeEndangered Indian Wildlife

Therapeutic pollutionTherapeutic pollution

RadiationRadiationDanger

– Roentgen equivalent man - REMS– damage cells & tissues

Policy– USDE– Nuclear waste disposal is highly

controversial

Noise PollutionNoise Pollution

Measure by annoyance factor Frequency

– cycles per second– hertz– vibrations per second

Amplitude– decibels (dB)

Noise abatement– Policy - Noise Control Act of 1972– Education programs– Environmental changes

Environmental RightsEnvironmental Rights

Environmental Damages – Caused by the Rich and Powerful

Rich/developed Nations, Corporates, Industries– Affect the poor and Marginalised

Developing countries, laborers, tribals, Environmental services and ill-effects are

disproportionately distributed

Environmental LawsEnvironmental Laws

Indian Forest Act 1927 Wildlife protection Act 1972 Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1977 Forest Conservation Act 1980 Environmental Protection Act 1986

– CRZ Rules 1992– EIA Notification 1994

Article 51(A)g of the Constitution

Tradition of ConservationTradition of Conservation Animal worship

– Snake, Peacock, Rat, Cow, Sacred groves

– Sthala Vruksha Concept,– Sacred flowers, leaves etc for Pooja

Bishnoy Community– Known to lay down lives for plants/wildlife

Budhism and Gandhism & Universal Brotherhood concepts

Emperor Ashoka established Animal Hospitals in 3rd Century BC

Man-Animal ConflictsMan-Animal Conflicts

Examples– Leopard menace at Sanjay Gandhi National

Park, Borivili our interference with the wildlife habitats

– Crop raiding by elephants Destruction of Wildlife Corridors

Bharatpur (Keoladeo National Park) Wrong conservation decisions avoiding people

Myth and RealityMyth and Reality

““Nature conservation is Against developmentNature conservation is Against development ?” ?”Truth

– Ultimately no development is sustainable without taking care of Nature,

– On the other hand people participation is vitalSustainable Development

– “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”*

*World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Our Common Future

How can we help EnvironmentHow can we help Environment– Avoid Wildlife products

Avoid Ivory, Fur, leather, etc, – Minimise the use of wooden/paper materials. – Plant trees/plants – Participate in decision making through EIAs– Respond positively to conservation efforts– Join hands with concerned organizations which are working

for Environment– Visit Natural forests and Sanctuaries and feel the

Environment at its natural state– Recognize everyone's right to have equal share of

environmental resources and risks

Thank YouThank You